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V O L . i i l No. 1 3 3
S A T U R D A Y , JA N U A R Y 20, 1945
R EG ISTER ED AS A KEW STAFKR -
BD. P E R COPT p o s t Fr e e 8d.
@ OMSI
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5
;ers of A u d co V a lv e s II w h o are not yet irj
>y position jF Engineering Company send Greetings j r
4 8 S Z
A O V A IS
..1 results of " t® T s u'He!,1'H e u a n d
» » Ł - - T r f c
jy ia u y c b a o í * w r edisturbance the !
ß O T T O M L E Y * . A N D *- B A I R D * L T D , A U D L E Y E N G IN E E R IN G C O M P A N Y
LIM ITED
NEWPORT SHROPSHIRE ENG.
Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 1
UNIFLOC REAGENTS LTD.,
— SWANSEA
— G ram s : UniSoc, Swansea Rotary P ulp Washing Machine, withPitch Pine Trough, Wash Gear and Scraper K nife.
Plant for the Chemical Industry
fo r A C ID N E U T R A L IZ A T IO N , C L A R IF IC A T IO N O F L IQ U ID S , D E W A T E R IN G O F S L U D G E S , E F F L U E N T P U R IF IC A T IO N , F I L T R A T IO N A N D F L O C C U L A T IO N , P IC K L IN G L IQ U O R T R E A T M E N T . P U R IF IC A T IO N O F T R A D E W A S T E , S E D I
M E N T A T IO N A N D T H IC K E N I N G , S E P A R A T IO N O F S O L ID S F R O M L IQ U ID S , SO D A R E C O V E R Y . W E T
M A T E R IA L H A N D L IN G In c lu d in g A G IT A T O R S C A U S T IC IZ - E R S , C L A R IF IE R S , C L A S S IF IE R S , C O N V E Y O R S , D E W A T E R IN G M A C H IN E S R O T A R Y V A C U U M F I L T E R S , SA N D W A S H E R S , S L U D G E P U M P S ,
T H IC K E N E R S , e tc .
Rotary Vacuum Filler, with Take-off Roller and Repuiper.
B A M A G
OIL & FAT TREATING PLANTS
B A M A G
B A M A G L I M I T E D
U N IV E R SA L H O U SE, 60 B U C K IN G H A M PA LA C E RO AD , L O N D O N , S .W .I.
Telephone : Sloane 9282
HIGHEST GRADE OF PRODUCT • LOWEST REFINING
LOSSES ■ MINIMUM CONTROL AND FLEXIBILITY IN OPERATION
Complete installations designed and built to individual requirementsWFtfO. BR«»S3
WÄLLÄCH
49 • TA BERNACLE ST •' LO N D O N • E*C *7 CLErkcnwcl! 1448;9
S A F E T Y F I R S T
PROTECT W ORKERS HANDS AGAINST IRRITANT SUBSTANCES T H E “ O L D B U R Y .” PA T EN TC A R B O Y D I S C H A R G E R will em pty and elevate up to 50 feet th e contents of any carboy, bo ttle o r vessel, dnd complies w ith all th e con
ditions of th e Factory A ct of I937.
Applied before work keeps hands healthy
ROZALEX L T D ., JO N OR FOLK S T .,'M A N C H E S T E R , 2 K ESTN ER EV A PO RA TO R & ENGINEERING
--- CO., L T D .--- *--- 5, Grosvenor Gardens, W estm inster, London, S.W .
— P O T T E R ’S --- Machinery Guards
0 D E S I G N E D FO R S A F E T Y f B U I L T
FO R S E R V IC E T
Industrial
Y ” s a f e t y !*•-:•-• •••'' E Q U I P M E N T I “ “ * ' :
A C ID & A LK A L I RESISTIN G C L O T H IN G , C A R B O Y S A F E T Y D E V IC E S , R U BB ER , A S B E S T O S , L E A T H E R & C O T T O N G L O V E S , SPLA SH PR O O F G O G G L E S A N D F A C E S H I E L D S , and everything for the protection of the Industrial W o rk er.
W iite to-day [or a copy of our “ Blue Book for Safety Appliances” —the result of fifty years’ experience In
protecting industry.
Potter’s guards are installed In works through
out the country and are distin- guishableby their sound construc
tion, good fitting and m any exclu
sive features.
P B I P P S T R E E T . L O N D O N . E . C . 2 ______
T ile n h e n tt : SfSSepifot. 2177 f ï Ii".*)
F i r s t Aid Outfits, etc., complying w i t h F a c t o r y R e g u l a t i o n s . F a c t o r y T h e r m o m e t e r s, etc.
A N D
Superlative Quality Large Stocks * Prompt Despatch
F R A N C IS W . H A R R IS & Co. Ltd.
BUR.SLEM - Stoke-on-Trent
’Phone Stoke-on-Trent 7181.
*Grams: Belting, Burslem
FIRST AID SUPPLY CO. 1925
88; NEWINGTON BUTTS, LONDON, S.E.II Telephone : RELIance 1823
T H E C H E M IC A L A G E J a n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5
Sa fety F irst
Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 ;, T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5
I f the Hoard met in the hoiler house . . .
Though the firemen m ight feel p u t out at first, they would quickly see th at the directors m eant business ab o u t fuel efficiency.' Everybody ab o u t the place w ould be on his toes in consequence. Is th a t so w ith you?
O r have you and your colleagues allowed fuel w atching an d th e rest o f it to degenerate into a meaningless ro u tin e ? In particular, can your recent records show any economies to m atch the following ?
A FAMOUS MOTOR WORKS has m ade savings o f fro m 25 % to 50 % in coke, co al, electricity, and gas by
1— reducing the fa c to r y tem perature 2— using e xtra care in sw itching o f f lights— ~
and rem oving unnecessary bulbs 3— letting in more daylight
A YORKSHIRE LAUNDRY, by ingeniously reclaim ing h e a t from w aste w ash -w ater w ith a large ra d ia to r, h as ra ised by 10 F . the tem p e ra tu re o f 25,000 gallons o f c o ld riv er w a ter p u m p e d daily th ro u g h the a p p a ra tu s , saving 15 cw t. o f coal each week.
HOW THESE BULLETINS CAN HELP Y O U . The latest specialized knowledge on alm ost every conceivable fuel subject is at your linger- tip H n the Fuel Efficiency B u lletin s-ad v icc and help th a t o r d in a r y would have to be heavily fee'd. If you’ve mislaid your copies, apply now to the Regional office o f the Ministry.
P Issued by the Ministry of Fuel
4— reducing the night s ta ff
5— lagging boilers a n d process equipm ent, and
6— serving cold m eals now and then in the canteen.
Sole distributors for Aerox Filters Ltd., Glasgow and London
A E R O X P R O D U C T I O N S L I M I T E D
CENTRAL HOUSE, UPPER WOBURN PLACE, LONDON, W.C. I
★ The lower i l l u s t r a t i o n shows our Experimental Laboratory Filter Set which consists of seven inter
changeable elements, one of each grade, 3'' long x 2" diameter. The fittings are supplied in Steel, Brass, Ebonite or Regulus Metal.
W e should be pleased to send you a copy of our Brochure B.6 on request.
" A E R O X ” PO R O U S C ERA M IC ELEM ENTS have been In use over a long period for the filtration of cold and hot gases.
They are particularly suitable for this type of filtra
tion because the method of manufacture ensures :—
1. Uniform pore density.
2. Controlled pore size.
3. Resistance to acids, alkalis, thermal shock and high temperature.
The Elements are manufactured In seven different grades of pore size ranging from S to 200 microns.
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5
Telephone : EU ST O N 4086 7
HBpMK
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 20, 1 945
H O L L A N D / S L M -
R O T A R Y CO MPRESSORS
& V A C U U M PUMPS
L O W M A IN T E N A N C E COSTS ten
L O N G LIFE
I N I T I A L E F F I C I E N C I E S M A I N T A I N E D O V E R Y E A R S O F S E R V I C E
The B. A. Holland Engineering Co. Ltd., 15 Dartmouth Street, London, S.W.1
W O R K S : P E R T H A V E N U E , S L O U G H
A Monument to Quality
B rillian t filtrates fro m all types o f chem ical liq u id s p ro d u c e d th ro u g h th e M e tafilte r are a m o n u m e n t to th e h ig h -q u ality filtration w h ich it en su res. I n ad d itio n to chem ical liq u id s, th e M e ta filte r han d les w ith equal facility a n d success sy n th e tic d ru g s, b io chem ical p ro d u c ts , g elatine, sy ru p s, an d e x tr a c ts ; a n d it w ith stan d s th e actio n o f acids, alkalis, oils, a n d o rg an ic liq u id s.
T H E M E T A F I L T R A T I O N C O . L T D ., B E L G R A V E R O A D , H O U N S L O W ,
M I D D L E S E X . T e le p h o n e :- Telegram s:
Hounslow 1 1 2 1 /2/3 M etafilter, Hounslow.
Ja n u a r y'2 0 , 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E v i i
N o w a v a i l a b l e . . .
DICHLOROACETIC ACID
c h c i2c o o h
Colourless liquid w ith sharp odour. Properties o f pure substance: B oiling poin t, 194°C. M eltin g P oint> 5 -6 C.
Specific G ra vity a t 4°C ., 1"58.
DICHLOROACETYL CHLORIDE
C H C lj C O C l
Colourless fu m in g liquid. Properties o f pure substance:
B oiling P o in t, 109’ C. M iscible w ith most organic solvents.
TRICHLOROACETIC ACID
c c i3c o o h
Colourless deliquescent crystals. Properties o f pure substance:
B oiling P oint, 196'5°C . M e ltin g P oint, 58°C. Specific G ra vity a t 70°C., 1’62.
TRICHLOROACETYL CHLORIDE
C C I3C O C I Colourless fu m in g liquid. Properties o f pure substance:
Boiling P o in t, 118°C. M iscible w ith m ost organic solvents.
The f o llo w in g a n d re la te d substances a va ila b le in ex p erim en ta l q u a n tities:
a re
O C T A C H L O R O P R O P A N E
A S Y M -H E P T A C H L O R O P R O P A N E S Y M -H E P T A C H L O R O P R O P A N E H E X A C H L O R O P R O P E N E O C T A C H L O R O B U T A N E
H E P T A C H L O R O B U T E N E H E X A C H L O R O B U T E N E H E X A C H L O R O B U T A D IE N E
“ P O L Y C H L O R O P E N T A N E ” H E P T A C H L O R O P E N T E N E
S am ples and inform ation on application to :
IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD., LONDON, S.W.l
C .N . 1 I3 6 L <£*
v iii T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5
Gravim etric assay with
CUPFERRON
C olorim etric estimation with
TOLUENE 3:4-DITHIOL
The separation and determination of TIN and many other metals forms the subject of
H “ O R G A N IC R E A G E N T S F O R M E T A L S ”
175 pp. 4th Edn., 1943 4/- post fre e The Book and the reagents produced and distributed by
H O P K I N & W I L L I A M S L T D .
1 6 - 1 7 S T . C R O S S S T R E E T , L O N D O N E . C . I
Chem ical Equ ip m en t lined w ith Acid-resisting Glass Enam el
T. & C. CLARK & C° LTD
TELEGRAMS:
W O Ï ,V E R H A M P T O N TELS ? P
CLARK WOLVERHAMPTON " ” L i T X I v 7 i ’ 20204/5
Faded account books still in existence show that, the Staveley Works were in active- operation as far back as the year 1690. The Staveley Coal & Iron Co. Iltd. was one of the first to be registered under the Act of 1863.
THE STAVELEY COAL & IRON CO., LIMITED.
I™ "-
- K-'Y'if ' « >'■ .* W .
■
■ , ;
vt“ ' W
« I
Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
X T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 1 9 4 5
FOR SU C C ESSFU L A N D EC O N O M IC A L O PE R A T IO N O F M A N Y PRESENT-DAY IN D U ST R IA L PRO CESSES T H E G E N E R A T IO N A N D M A IN T E N A N C E O F A H IGH V A C U U M IS IM PERATIVE A N D T H E C LO SER T H E A PPR O A C H T O A N A BS O LU T E V A C U U M IN M A N Y O F TH ESE PRO CESSES T H E M ORE SU C C ESSFU L T H E O PER A T IO N .
The M IRRLEES W A T S O N C O M P A N Y have specialised for many years in the manufacture of equipment to meet the needs of industry in this direction progressively modifying and improving their products until to-day they are supplying vacuum creating STEAM E JE C T O R A IR PUMPS capable of successfully maintaining vacua within 5 mm. of Absolute in large scale industrial processes.
TH E C O ST O F M A IN T E N A N C E O F SU C H EQ U IPM E N T IS N E G L IG IB L E AS T H ER E A RE N O M O V IN G PARTS T O G O W R O N G — JU S T W H A T T H E M A IN T E N A N C E E N G IN E E R IS L O O K IN G FO R !
Engineers and Industrial Chemists are Invited to w rite for information regarding their especial problems which w ill receive our expert consideration and we will be pleased to advise accordingly.
W e also m anufacture Reciprocating and R o tary A i r Pum ps. These have their special applications.
PYREX
REG? TRADE MARK.SCIENTIFIC GLASSWARE A valuable aid
in the L a b o ra to ry !
The successful outcome of any test or experiment in the laboratory depends entirely upon the reliability of the glassware used.
P Y R E X Brand Scientific Glassware creates confidence by the fact that It possesses the amazingly low co-efficient of expansion of .0000032, and is thus almost completely immune from the effects of sudden and violent thermal changes. At the same time, acids (except hydrofluoric and glacial phosphoric) have no effect upon the surface of this famous glassware.
Owing to the low co-efficient of expansion of P Y R E X Brand Scientific Glassware, it has been possible to make the many various vessels of more robust build than that of ordinary glass, thus reducing the risk of breakage due to continuous everyday handling.
P Y R E X B r a n d S c ¡r a t i f i a (j l a s s w a r e i s s u p p l i e d o n ly t h r o u g h L a b o r a t o r y F u r n is h - s . b u t i l l u s t r a t e d c a t a lo g u e
s e n t d i r e c t o n a p p li c a t io n to u s .
Ask for PYREX Brand and see t h a t you g et it!
J A M E S A. J O B L IN G & C O . LTD.
S U N D E R L A N D . T4„
MIRRLEES mXSON S
- IIMTTE» ■S C OT L A N D ST. — C C A S C O W I
M O D E R N P R A C T I C E IN m X M :
13-unit switchboard, including 2 —1,200 amp. incoming feeder equipments and a 1,200 amp. bus section equipment.
Power distribution switchboards built on the unit principle facilitate easy erection and extension.
Class B P swilchgear is also available with flam eproof enclosure
(Buxton Certificate)
Valves
IN D U STRIAL
C th JSW ITCHGEAR
\ ¿ / UP TO 3 .3 KV. _ _ _ _ _ _
THE UF-TO-DATE FACTORY
8TH products in c lu d e .—
Turbo-alternators Turbo-generators (up to the largest sizes) Turbine or Motor-driven Compressors and Blowers Alternators and Generators W ater-pow er o r Engine-driven
Converting Machinery Switchgear Transformers
Rectifiers Autom atic Substations
Power Factor Im provement Plant
Electric W in d ers and all kinds of Heavy Electric Plant Motors and Control Gfear „ for any industrial application
(large o r small) Electric Ship Propulsion Electric Traction (road and rail)
Industrial Heating Equipment Cinema Projector Equipment
Mazda Lamps, and Mazdalux Lighting
Equipment
¡1
n n r X I r
i- ■ ' o f e v e r y d e s c r i p t i o n 1. ... .... f
J
B T H I
T H E B R IT IS H T H 0 M S 0 N -H 0 U S T 0 N C O ..L T D .C R O W N H O U S E . A L O W Y C H . L O N D O N . W .C .2 .
Ja n u a r y 20, 1 945 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5
H E AD O F F I C E • T U R N B R I D G E - H U D O E R S F I E L D
10 NO OH OFFICE -119 VICTO Rtft S T. S WI - MIDUHD5 0 F FIC E e IB E N H ETTS HIU BUMINCIUH.2 Telephones: Huddersfield. 5280 : LONDON, V ictoria, 9971 : BIRMINGHAM. Midland. 6830
H U D D E R S F I E L D
| One o f the many Holm es-Connersville Blowers supplied to Chem ical W orks.
Capacity o f machine illustrated. 120,000 cu. ft. per hour a gainst a pressure of 3 lbs. per sq. inch. Speed 400 r.p.m.
F O U N D E D 1830
Old-established yet up-to-date In every detail, this organisation p ro vid e s a s p e c ia lis e d service for the chemical industry that ensures rapid delivery and low prices all the time
M A N U F A C T U R E R S A N D P R O P R I E T O R S O F
" I N V I C T A " dec ^ b U o R n 1NG
PLUMBAGO CHARCOAL (W ood & Animal) MANGANESE
u I M X / I f ' T A " b i t u m i n o u s m a t e r i a l s I I N V I I / A f o r r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n
G
d i k i n i R i r W ith im Pr° ved m i|,s> ° f I Y I U I i N V J e v e ry d e sc rip tio n o f chemical and other materials for the tradeT H O M A S H I L L - J O N E S , L T D .
M A N U F A C T U R IN G CHEMISTS, IN V IC T A W O R K S , B O W C O M M O N L A N E L O N D O N , E.3.
and at MEESON’S W HARF, BOW BRIDGE, E.I5 :: CONTRACTORS TO H.M. GOVERNMENT T e l e p h o n e : E A S T 328S (3 lin e s ) . T e le g r a m s : H lll- J o n e s B o c h u r c h , L o n d o n
H O L M E S-C O N N E R S V IL L E
P O S I T I V E A I R B L O W E R S
d e li v e r a p o s itiv e , r e li a b l e a n d o il-fre e s u p p ly o f A ir e c o n o m ic a lly a n d e ffic ie n tly .
A b s e n c e o f in te r n a l c o n ta c t e n s u r e s lo n g life, lo w m a in te n a n c e a n d c o n tin u o u s o p e r a tio n o v e r lo n g p e r i o d s . M a n y o f th e s e m a c h in e s a r e in s u c c e s s fu l o p e r a tio n fo r th e h a n d lin g o f G a s e s . O v e r 1,400 h a v e b e e n s u p p l i e d a lr e a d y fo r s u c h p u r p o s e s .
0 8 3
Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E x i i i
W O RK S: W IDNES, LANCS London w . Ć T f l p k S ' S !
I Making a
WI DNE
FOUNDRY AN D ENG IN EERING COM PANY LIMITED
Makers of Special D uty Castings for more than a Century
T his rotary filter drum casting, size 8 ' 0" diam eter by 6 ' 3" long, weighing six tons, is about to start a life o f long service—for it has just left W idnes Foundry, where experience and up-to-the-m inute methods were employed in its casting. W hether your casting problem is large or small, we can offer you ou r help.XXV T H h C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5
R E A S O N S F O R U S I N G
‘ A n a l a R ’ C H E M IC A L S
6 T h e y a re of B ritis h M an u facture
0 T h e y conform to published standards of p u rity 0 T h e y a r e supplied u n d er labels show ing
m ax im u m lim its of ail lik e ly im p u ritie s T h e y a re b o ttled u n d er conditions w h ich ensure freed o m fro m c o n tam in a tio n
0 T h e y a re so pure th a t ‘ reagent e rro rs ’ a re e lim in ate d
‘ A n alaR ’ laboratory chemicals are essentially Intended for use as the standard analytical materials in laboratories where important and responsible work is undertaken.
The ' ANALAR' specifications are set out in the publication
"A N ALA R STANDARDS FOR LABORATORY CH EM ICA LS."
Third Edition
Price : 5s. Od. Postage extra
THE BRITISH DRUG HOUSES LTD.
G R A H A M S T R E E T L O N D O N N .l
noie o n -
V Ä T S a n d the U m b er sh o rta g e
A N D S O N , L I M I T E D H a x d e r s R d ., P e c k h a x n , L O N D O N , S .E .15
P h o n e : N e w C r o s s 1826
W
e still possess lim ite d stocks of the usual im p o rte d tim b e rs su itab le fo r ch em ical V a ts , b u t to save shipping space it is im p o rta n t th a t w h e n e ve r possible hom e-grown tim b e rs should be used instead. W e have stocks o f high q u a lity English O a k and EnglishL a rc h in seasoned co n d itio n and w e hope th a t o u r custom ers w ill co-operate by consid ering th e use o f these tim b e rs fo r th e ir V a ts w h e re v e r possible.
¿ f u r t h e r
n o /e -C ince the war besan w eh ave so fa r f u lly m a in tain ed o u r pre-w ar high standards as to q u a lity and seasoning of tim b e r, and it is o u r in te n tio n to co n tin u e thus. If, h o w e ve r, c ircu m stan ces should a t any tim e com p el o th e rw ise , an y q u o tatio n affected w ould co n tain an a p p ro p ria te n otification.
C Ä R T Y
The Chemical Age
A Weekly Journal Devoted to Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
B O U V E R IE H O U S E , 164 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4
Telegram s: ALLANGAS F L E E T LONDON Telephone: CENTRAL 3212 (10 lines)
GLASGOW : 116 Hope Street (Central 3970) BIRM INGHAM : Daim ler House, Paradise S treet (Midland 0784-3) T H E CHEMICAL AGE offices are closed on Saturdays in accordance w ith the adoption of the fiye*day week by
Benn B rothers Limited
VOL. L I I
N o. 1 3 3 4-
January 20, 1945
Annual , Subscription j a ts i; \à
Overseas 26s.
A ngels U naw ares A
T th e tim e o f th e P e n i n s u l a r W a r ,th e B r i ti s h 'p r iv a te s o ld ie r , s t a lw a r t f ig h te r t h o u g h h e w a s , w a s f a r f r o m b e in g a h ig h ly - e d u c a te d m o r ta l. I t w a s , t h e r e f o r e , n o t t h e p r a c tic e o f h is officers to b u r d e n h is m in d w ith th e p l a n of c a m p a i g n , n o r to l e c tu r e h im o n th e p o litic a l tr e n d s1 of th e d a y . N o w a d a y s , h o w e v e r , th e a v e r a g e s o ld ie r ta k e s a r e a l i n te r e s t in th e t a c tic s a n d s t r a te g y of th e w a r , a s w e ll a s in th e p o litic a l s e t-u p in its w id e s t s e n s e , a n d — th o u g h h e m a y scoff a t th e m a s a m a t t e r o f fo rm - t h e c la s s e s a n d le c t u r e s re c o m m e n d e d
a n d u p - t o - d a t e ; b u t a r e c e n t a r ti c l e in i n d u s t r i a l W e l f a r e , th e o r g a n o f t h e I n d u s t r i a l W e l f a r e S o c ie ty , c a s ts s o m e t h i n g o f a b l i g h t o n o u r o p tim is m . T h e a u th o r s a r e D r . A lic e S t e w a r t a n d M iss M a r y L a m b , b o th o f th e N u ffie ld D e p a r t m e n t o f C lin ic a l M e d ic in e , O x f o r d , a n d th e a r ti c l e is a s u m m a tio n o f th e o b s e r v a tio n s o f 20 s tu d e n ts , of h a lf- a - d o z e n a s s o r te d u n i v e r s it i e s , w h o s p e n t six w e e k s o f t h e i r v a c a tio n w o r k in g in a l a r g e f a c to r y , a n d — w h a t is sig n ifican t*
— in a f a c to r y o f r e c e n t c o n s tr u c tio n . T h e i n te r e s t in g t h i n g a b o u t t h e i r r e p o r t b y A B C A , f o r e x a m p le , s a tis f y a g e n u in e is t h a t th e y w e re n o t s e n t to s p y u p o n
d e s ir e f o r i n f o r m a t io n o n th e p a r t of M r. A tk in s , a n d h e f ig h ts y e t b e tt e r on t h a t a c c o u n t.
S i m il a r ly th e w o r k e r in th e f a c to r y , h o w e v e r u n i m p o r t a n t h i s p o s itio n m a y a p p e a r to b e , h a s a
g o o d c la im , a n d u s u a l ly a s in c e r e w is h , to -u n d e rs ta n d w h a t is g o in g o n in h is f a c to r y , a n d h o w h is w o r k fits in w ith th e g e n e r a l sc h e m e o f th in g s . J u d g i n g b.y r e p o r t s w e h a v e r e c e iv e d , We h a d th o u g h t t h a t th e e x c e lle n t p r a c t i c e o f t a k i n g e m p lo y e e s b r o a d ly in to th e fir m ’s c o n fid e n c e w a s g e n e r a ll y p r e v a l e n t in th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y , a t a n y r a te in a ll p l a n t s c la i m i n g to b e e fficien t
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t h e f a c to r y c o n d itio n s , b u t to d is c o v e r w h e th e r a c e r t a i n c h e m ic a l p r o d u c e d ill e ffe c ts o n th e p e o p le w h o h a d to h a n d le it. T h e y w e re m e r e ly a s k e d c a s u a lly to r e c o r d t h e i r g e n e r a l im p r e s s io n s , w ith th e i d e a t h a t th e s e m ig h t b e o f so m e u s e in g u i d in g th e p r a c tic e o f i n d u s t r ia l w e l f a r e in a b r o a d w ay .
I n f a c t, th e r e c o r d e d im p r e s s io n s d id a g r e a t d e a l m o r e th a n t h i s ; th e y sh o w e d u p so m e g l a r i n g d e fic ie n c e s in th e w e lf a r e o r g a n is a t i o n o f th is p a r t i c u l a r f a c t o r y — d e f e c ts w h ic h , it is c le a r , w e n t a lo n g w a y to w a r d s c a u s in g a b s e n te e is m , a p a t h y , a n d s lip s h o d w o rk . I t s h o u ld b e e m - 76
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74 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E J a n u a r y 20, 19 4 5 p h a s is e d t h a t th e s e s tu d e n ts w e re n o t
m e d ic a l s t u d e n ts , t h a t th e y c o m p r is e d b o th m e n a n d w o m e n , a n d t h a t th e y w o r k e d o n th e s a m e s h if ts a n d o b s e rv e d th e s a m e r u le s a s u n s k i l le d o p e r a tiv e s . T h e y a p p e a r to h a v e w o n th e g o o d w ill b o th o f th e m a n a g e m e n t a n d o f t h e i r c o - w o r k e r s ; th e l a t t e r c h e e r f u lly d u b b e d th e m “ T h e G u in e a P i g s . ”
L ik e m o s t o th e r p e o p le , th e y w e re o f th e o p in io n t h a t g o o d w e l f a r e w o rk s p e l ls g o o d p r o d u c t i o n ; a n d a t first g l a n c e th e w e lf a r e in th e f a c to r y a p p e a r e d effic ie n t. I t s o o n b e c a m e a p p a r e n t, h o w e v e r , t h a t th e g o o d r e s u l ts o f th is effic ie n c y w e re im p a i r e d , if n o t c o m p le te ly n u llif ie d , b y th e i r r i t a t i o n in d u c e d by a m a s s o f p e tty a n d a n n o y in g r e s tr ic tio n s , l e a d i n g to a n a tt i tu d e of c y n ic is m b o r d e r i n g o n in d if f e r e n c e — w ith o b v io u s ly d e tr i m e n t a l r e s u l ts o n th e w o rk d o n e . T h e r e is a d a n g e r — h e r e a n d now -—o f r e g a r d i n g s u c h p e tty a n n o y a n c e s a s in e v i t a b l e , n o t o n ly in th e f a c to r y , b u t in th e l if e o f th e n a tio n . A c o m m e n t o n th is s u b je c t f ro m a n o u ts id e o b s e r v e r is- r e v e a li n g : M a jo r - G e n e r a l S p e a r s , w h o r e c e n tl y r e tu r n e d to E n g l a n d f r o m h is p o s t a s B r itis h 'M i n i s t e r in S y r ia , h a s s o m e h in g to sa y o n th e m a t t e r . “ I h a v e a s l i g h t f e e l
i n g , ” h e s a y s , “ o f h a v in g c o m e b a c k to a l a n d r u n b y c o m m is s a r s — o f a te n d e n c y to d i s c ip l i n e th e p e o p le n e e d le s s ly , to k e e p r e s t r ic ti o n s u n n e c e s s a r i ly . ” W e l l , w e a l l k n o w th e ja c k -in -o ffic e a n d h is l i t t l e w a y s , b u t th e t r o u b le is t h a t w e a r e a l l so i n c l i n d e d to b e g o o d - n a tu r e d ly la z y t h a t w e te n d to a d o p t th e a tt i tu d e o f c y n ic is m a n d in d if f e r e n c e , in s te a d o f p u t t i n g o u r p e tty b u r e a u c r a t s in th e i r p la c e .
I n th e f a c to r y th e n , a s in th e n a ti o n , t h is g r a tu i t o u s w h ip - c r a c k in g h a s th e w o r s t o f r e s u lts . O n e o f th e m o s t in f u r i a t i n g f e a t u r e s o b s e r v e d b y o u r s tu d e n ts w a s th e p r e s e n c e o f a n i n s p e c to r a te w h o a p p e a r e d to d o l i t t l e o r n o w o rk . W e a r e f u lly , a w a r e t h a t in m a n y w a r f a c to r ie s th e p r o d u c ts h a v e to b e c h e c k e d a n d c o u n te r c h e c k e d , b u t th e h i g h e r m a n a g e m e n t s h o u ld k e e p a c lo s e w a tc h o n th e c h e c k in g s ta ff le s t i n s p e c tio n s h o u ld d e g e n e r a t e in to n a g g in g . T h e h i g h e r a u th o r i t y s h o u ld p e r f o r m , in th e f a c to r y , th e d u ty t h a t d e v o lv e s o n P a r l i a m e n t a t th e n a ti o n a l le v e l : “ to k e e p a n e y e o n th e c o m m is s a r s p i r i t , ” a s G e n e r a l S p e a r s p u ts it, “ a n d se e
t h a t it is n o t a llo w e d to s p i e a d . ” In th e f a c to r y d e s c rib e d , th e r e a p p e a r e d to b e, a m o n g th e w o r k e r s , n o k n o w le d g e o f th e r i g h t p e r s o n to a p p r o a c h in o r d e r to r e m e d y th e tr o u b le , w h e r e b y th e s e n s e o f f r u s t a ti o n w a s f u r t h e r a g g r a v a te d .
T h e p r o d u c ts h a n d le d in th is f a c to r y w e re a p o t e n t i a l d a n g e r to th e w o r k e r s , a n d a n e v e n g r e a t e r m e n a c e if a llo w e d to le a v e th e f a c to r y in a f a u lt y c o n d itio n in a n y r e s p e c t. Y e t l i t t l e o r n o th in g w a s d o n e to f a m i l ia r is e th e w o r k e r s w ith th e p o s s ib le c o n s e q u e n c e s o f c a r e le s s n e s s . K n o w in g th e e ffe c tiv e u s e o f p o s te r s , p i c tu r e s , a n d film s t h a t h a s b e e n m a d e a t c e r t a i n c h e m ic a l a n d m e ta l
lu r g ic a l w o rk s , w e a r e f r a n k l y a g h a s t t h a t s u c h s im p le m e a n s w e re n o t u s e d in th is in s ta n c e . F i n d i n g t h a t m o s t o f t h e i r q u e s tio n s a b o u t th e w o r k th e y w e re d o in g w e n t u n a n s w e r e d b y th e ju n io r o ffic ia ls, th e s tu d e n ts a p p r o a c h e d th e h i g h e r a u th o r i t y a n d w e re g iv e n a s p e c ia l le c t u r e o n t h e n a t u r e a n d u se s o f th e p r o d u c ts w ith w h ic h th e y w e re e n g a g e d . F u r t h e r m o r e , th e y w e re ta k e n o n a t o u r o f th e w h o le f a c to r y a n d sh o w n th e r e la ti o n b e tw e e n th e v a r io u s p r o c e s se s e m p lo y e d . F o r th is , th e y w e re a n o b je c t o f e n v y o n t h e p a r t o f th o s e o p e r a tiv e s w h o h a d n o t y e t s u n k so f a r in to a p a t h y t h a t th e y d id n o t c a r e w h e th e r th e y w e re m a k i n g h i g h e x p lo s iv e o r h ig h - h e e le d sh o e s. W it h m o d e r n l a r g e - s c a le p r o d u c tio n a n d d iv is io n o f l a b o u r , i t b e c o m e s m o r e a n d m o re o b lig a to r y to a tt e m p t to i n te r e s t w o r k e r s in w h a t th e y a r e d o in g , a n d to g iv e th e m a s e n s e o f p r id e in th e i r c o n tr ib u t io n to th e c o m p le te d ta s k .
T h e a v e r a g e B r i ti s h w o r k e r te n d s to b e d u m b a n d u n d e m o n s t r a t i v e ; i t m a y b e t h r o u g h s h e e r in d if f e r e n c e , f e a r o f l o s i n g h is jo b , o r d is lik e o f a p o s s ib le r e b u ff f r o m a p e tty o fficial. A n y d is s a tis f a c tio n e x p r e s s e s its e lf in i n f e r i o r w o rk . O u r “ a n g e l s ” w e re c a p a b le o f e x p r e s s in g th e m s e lv e s , a n d in a p o s itio n to d o s o ; a n d i t w a s a goo'd jo b f o r th is p a r t i c u l a r f a c to r y t h a t th e y d id .
W e h a v e o f te n a d v o c a te d th e e m p lo y m e n t o f s t u d e n ts in f a c to r ie s i n th e i r v a c a tio n s , b u t th is w a s r a t h e r f o r th e g o o d o f th e s tu d e n ts a n d f o r th e f u t u r e b e n e fit to te c h n ic a l i n d u s t r y a s a w h o le . I t n o w a p p e a r s t h a t th e r e is y e t a n o th e r s e r v ic e w h ic h t h is s y s te m c a n p e r f o r m : th e a c t u a l a m e l io r a ti o n o f c u r r e n t w o r k s p r a c t ic e a n d p e r s o n n e l m a n a g e m e n t.
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Science and Industry
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H E B r itis h A s s o c ia tio n is to be c o n g r a t u la t e d f o r h a v in g c o n v e n e d a tw o - d a y s ’ c o n f e r e n c e o n “ T h e P l a c e o f S c ie n c e in I n d u s t r y , ” w h ic h w a s a d d re s s e d b y th e M in is te r s o f L a b o u r a n d o f R e c o n s tr u c tio n , a s w e ll a s b y a n u m b e r o f l e a d i n g s c ie n tis ts a n d in d u s t r i a l i s t s , d w e l li n g o n s u b je c ts w h ic h r a n g e d fro m th e v ita m in i n d u s t r y to th e R o lls -R o y c e M e r lin e n g in e . T h e o b je c tiv e o f th e c o n f e r e n c e w a s to m a k e th e p u b lic g e n e r a ll y , a n d i n d u s tr y in p a r t i c u l a r , m o r e c o n s c io u s o f th e im p o r ta n c e o f th e i n te r p l a y b e tw e e n s c ie n c e a n d in d u s tr y . M r. B e v in , p r e s id in g a t th e o p e n in g s e s s io n , e m p h a s is e d t h a t b o th a g r e a t e r e ffo rt a n d a l a r g e r o u t la y w e re r e q u ir e d o n r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t in th e d a y s to co m e .“ M o n o p o lis tic te n d e n c ie s a n d c u m b e r so m e p r o te c tiv e p a te n t la w s w h ic h w e re e v e n m o re r e s t r ic ti v e t h a n ta r if f s ” a r e s e rio u s o b s ta c le s to c h a n g e , th u s p r e v e n tin g th e b e n e fits o f s c ie n tific d is c o v e rie s f ro m b e in g e n jo y e d b y th e
“ c o m m o n m a n . ” T h e r e is l i t t l e j u s t i fic a tio n f o r e la tio n if w e p o n d e r o v e r w h a t L o rd W o o lto n s a id in a f o r c e f u l s p e e c h a t th e c o n c lu d in g se ss io n . B r i ta i n w a s , in f a c t, s a v e d fro m s t a r v a tio n d u r i n g th e w a r b y th e a p p lic a tio n o f s c ie n tific k n o w le d g e to fo o d p o lic y . R e s e a r c h w o r k o n p e n ic i ll i n w o u ld , in p e a c e -tim e , h a v e ta k e n “ m a n y m o re y e a r s . ”
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U R n a ti o n a l p o lic y d u r i n g th is c e n tu r y b r o u g h t u s v e r y n e a r to d e fe a t b e c a u s e w e w e re n i g g a r d l y in s u p p o r t i n g o u r s c ie n tis ts , w h o a r e n o le s s b r i l l i a n t th a n th o s e o f o th e r l a n d s . T h is a p p lie s n o t m e r e ly to p u r e r e s e a r c h c a r r i e d o u t, in th e m a in , in th e u n iv e r s itie s , b u t a ls o to th e a p p li c a t io n o f s c ie n c e in a lm o s t e v e r y s p h e r e o f lif e , b e it p r e v e n tiv e m e d ic in e , h o u s in g , fo o d , o r f u e l. Tt w a s o n ly w h e n th e r e s u l ts o f r e s e a r c h w e re n o t l e f t to th e “ te n d e r m e r c ie s o f th e c a s u a l c o m m e rc ia l p a s s e r - b y ” t h a t a n i m p r o v e m e n t c o u ld b e e x p e c te d . H o w e v e r , w e m u s t n o t e x p e c t t h a t a m o re la v is h e x p e n d i t u r e w o u ld , b y its e lf , r e s u l t in a g o ld e n a g e f o r s c ie n c e ; th is c o u ld b e b r o u g h t a b o u t o n ly b y a p ro -C O M M E N T S
fo u n d c h a n g e in th e a tt i t u d e o f in d u s t r i a l i s t s — e s p e c ia lly o f th o s e o w n in g s m a ll o r m e d iu m -s iz e d u n its — to g e th e r w ith a v a s tly im p r o v e d s c ie n tific e d u c a tio n . I t w o u ld h a v e b e e n r a t h e r m o re e n c o u r a g in g if th e a u d ie n c e h a d in c lu d e d r a t h e r m o r e o f th e ty p e o f i n d u s t r i a l i s t a t w h o m th e d is c o u rs e d w e re a im e d .
Chemical Engineers’ Courses
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L L o u r r e a d e r s w ill b e g l a d to le a r n t h a t th e I n s t i tu t i o n o f C h e m ic a l E n g in e e r s h a s p u b lis h e d i ts S c h e m e f o r a D e g r e e C o u r s e in C h e m ic a l E n g i n e e r in g . T h e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t t h a t th e c o n tr o l o f p ro c e s s e s a n d th e d e s ig n of p l a n t is g o in g to b e o f p a r a m o u n t i m p o r ta n c e in th e d a y s a f t e r th e w a r , a n d th e m o re e n c o u r a g e m e n t t h a t c a n b e g iv e n to th o s e w h o a r e g o in g to c o n tr o l th e p ro c e s s e s a n d d e s ig n th e p l a n t , th e b e tt e r fo r th e c o m m u n ity i n .g e n e r a l . I t is a d m itte d t h a t th e s c h e d u le o f s u b je c ts s e t o u t la y s a h e a v y b u r d e n o n b o th t e a c h e r s a n d s t u d e n ts , a n d a m in im u m o f f o u r y e a r s is p r e s c r ib e d fo r th e c o u rs e . T h is is u n a v o id a b le : th e t a s k o f th e c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r is n o l i g h t o n e , a s , in a d d itio n to a m a s te r y o f t h e p r a c t ic e o f h is s u b je c t, h e m u s t h a v e th e a b il i ty to d e fin e , a n a ly s e , a n d s o lv e p r o b le m s . T h e firs t y e a r ’s c o u r s e c o n s is ts o f a g e n e r a l t r a i n i n g in m a th e m a tic s , m e c h a n ic s , c h e m is tr y , p h y s ic s , a n d e n g in e e r i n g d r a w in g . I n th e s e c o n d a n d t h ir d y e a r s c h e m is tr y a g a in b u lk s l a r g e , a n d m a 'tb e m a tic s a n d d r a w i n g a re c o n tin u e d , w h ile th e p r o p e r tie s o f m a te r i a l s a r e s tu d ie d in d e ta il.Specialisation
I
M P O R T A N T f o u r t h - y e a r s u b je c ts a r e th e s tu d y o f u n i t o p e r a tio n s a n d c h e m ic a l p l a n t d e s ig n , a n d th e a c tu a l m e th o d s o f w o r k s p r a c t ic e c o m e in to th e p ic tu r e . I t is n o t u n t il a f te r th e f o u r t h y e a r t h a t th e s tu d e n t is e x p e c te d to s p e c ia lis e a n d w r ite h im s e lf d o w n a n O il T e c h n o lo g is t, a F u e l T e c h n o lo g is t, o r w h a te v e r h e m a y d e s i r e ; a n d a t a ll s ta g e s it is in s is te d t h a t t h e c o u r s e s h a ll n o t b e u n d u l y r i g i d , so t h a t if h e w is h e s , th e s tu d e n t c a n t r a n s f e r h is a tt e n ti o n in th e e a r l y s ta g e s to so m e o t h e r b r a n c h of l e a r n in g . T h e c o u r s e is to b e r e g a r d e dB
76 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5 a s a n i n te g r a t e d sc h e m e o f e d u c a tio n in
th o s e b r a n c h e s o f s c ie n c e w h ic h f o r m th e b a s is o f c h e m ic a l e n g in e e r i n g , a n d , w h e n p a s s e d , s h o u ld s a tis f y th e I n s t i t u tio n in a n y c la i m fo r e x e m p tio n f r o m the.
A s s o c ia te -M e m b e rs h ip e x a m in a tio n .
Petroleum Chem ists Wanted
T
O j u d g e b y th e w o r d in g o f a n a d v e r tis e m e n t in a r e c e n t is s u e o f T h e T i m e s , it se e m s a s t h o u g h th e f o u n d a tio n o f a B r itis h o r g a n ic c h e m ic a l in d u s tr y b a s e d o n o il w e re w ith in r e a s o n a b le d is t a n c e o f b e c o m in g a n a c c o m p lis h e d fa c t.I t is s t a te d , in th e a d v e r t is e m e n t, t h a t a B r itis h o il c o m p a n y , a t its r e fin e r y in N .W . E n g l a n d , h a s th r e e v a c a n c ie s fo r c h e m is ts in th e r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t d e p a r t m e n t . A ll a r e r e q u ir e d to h a v e s o m e k n o w le d g e o f p e tr o le u m p r o d u c ts fro m v a r io u s a n g le s , a n d th e n a t u r e o f th e k n o w le d g e r e q u ir e d a p p e a r s to in d ic a te a w ise d i s t r ib u t i o n o f th e m e th o d s t h a t it is c o n te m p la te d e m p lo y in g in th e d e v e lo p m e n t" w o r k on h a n d . T h e “ s e n io r r e s e a r c h c h e m i s t , ” fo r e x a m p le , w h o is to s u p e r v is e r e s e a r c h on p r o d u c ts a n d p ro c e s s e s , m u s t h a v e
“ e x p e r ie n c e in m ą n u f a c t u r e o f o r r e s e a r c h o n p e tr o le u m p r o d u c ts ” ; o f h is tw o ju n io r s , o n e s h o u ld h a v e c h e m ic a j e n g in e e r i n g q u a lif ic a tio n s , w h ile o f th e o th e r is d e m a n d e d la b o r a to r y e x p e r ie n c e in p e tr o l e u m o r h e a v y c h e m ic a ls —-in e it h e r c a s e f o r r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t w o rk o n p e tr o le u m p r o d u c ts a n d p r o cesses.
O il-Based Chemicals ?
I
T c e r t a i n l y lo o k s a s th o u g h th is B r itis h o il c o m p a n y m e a n t b u s in e s s , a n d b u s in e s s on th e s ite , n o t a t so m e o u t-o f-th e -w a y lo c a tio n o v e r s e a s . A n a llo w a n c e f o r d e la y in t a k i n g , u p th e p o s ts , in th e c a s e o f c a n d id a te s a t p r e s e n t o c c u p ie d w ith n a ti o n a l s e r v ic e r e q u ir e m e n ts , is , o f c o u r s e , i n c l u d e d ; a n d th e r e s h o u ld b e n o d iffic u lty in f in d in g s u i t a b le m e n to fill th e p o s itio n s . T h a t oil- b a s e d o r g a n ic c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y , th e f o u n d a tio n o f w h ic h w e , a m o n g o th e r s , h a v e so o f te n u r g e d , lo o k s a s t h o u g h it h a d a g o o d c h a n c e o f c o m in g i n to b e in g . I t e v e n a p p e a r s a s if s o m e in d e p e n d e n t s p i r i ts h a d a c t u a l l y l e a r n t a le s s o n fro m th e w a r . W e s h a l l w a tc h f o r s u b s e q u e n t d e v e lo p m e n ts w ith th e g r e a t e s t in te r e s t.N ew C o n tro l O rd e rs
E x p o r t L ic e n s in g
U
N D E R th e e x is tin g E x p o rt of G oods (C ontrol) O rd e rs, all goods re q u ire licen ces o n e x p o rt to c e rta in d e stin a tio n s .T h e E x p o rt of G oods (C ontrol) (No. 1) O rd e r, 1945 (S. R . & O. 1945, No. 12), o p e ra tiv e from J a n u a r y 15, rem oves from th e lis t of d e stin a tio n s re fe rre d . to above a ll c o u n trie s ex cep t : A n d o rra , B u rm a, C h in a, L ie c h te n ste in , P o rtu g a l (including M a d e ira , th e A zo res a n d th e C ape V erd e I s i.), R io de O ro, S p a in (inclu d in g th e C q n ary I s ] . and S p a n ish M orocco), Sw eden, S w itz e rla n d , T a n g ie r Z o n e, T u rk e y , U .S .S .R ., an d enem y te rrito rie s . T h e m ain effect is to free m o st M iddle E ast c o u n tries fro m th is re s tric tio n .
A t th e sam e tim e m o difications h av e been in tro d u c e d in to th e system of co n tro l over im p o rts in to th e M id d le E a s t, a n d d e ta ils of these a re now a v ailab le. T h e m ain effect of th ese is th a t a reco m m en d a tio n from th e M iddle E a s t S u p p ly C e n tre (M .E .S .C .) w ill n o t b e re q u ire d in su p p o rt of a n a p p lic a tio n for e x p o rt licence e x cep t fo r goods in clu d ed in th e follow ing list.
A m ong th e goods re q u irin g M .E .S .C . r e c o m m endation a re th e follow ing : D e x tro se an d glucose, e ssen tial oils, p e c tin , sa c c h a rin , so ap , s ta rc h and in ed ib le sta rch p ro d u c ts , v ita m in s an d v itam in o ils an d c o n c e n tra te s , c asein ; paraffin wax-, m ica a n d m an u fa c tu re s th ere o f, lead and m a n u fa c tu re s th e r e of, m olybdenum w ire , tin an d m a n u fa c tu re s
•th e re o f, tu n g ste n , tu n g sten c a rb id e an d m a n u fa c tu re s th ere o f, a n aly tic al b a la n ce s, v acu u m p u m p s (1 m icron o r h ig h e r vacuum ), r u b b e r and sy n th e tic ru b b e r, b a la ta , g u tta p e rc h a an d m a n u fa c tu re s th ere o f.
A cetic acid (n o t in clu d in g v in e g a r), acetic a n h y d rid e , acetone, am m onium n itr a te , am m onium p h o sp h a te , am m onium -su lp h a te , a n h y d ro u s am m onia, an ilin e oil an d a n ilin e sa lts , arg o ls a n d w ine-lees, a rsen io u s o x id e, b u ty l a c e ta te , b u ty l alcohol, calcium a rs e n a te , calcium c a rb id e , carb o n b isu lp h id e, carb o n b lac k , carb o n te tra c h lo rid e , c h lo r
in e, chrom ic acid ta n n in g com pounds, c itric acid an d c itra te s , c o a l-ta r dyestuffs, co
d ein e an d sa lts, eresols an d eresylic acid , D D T , d iac e to n e alcohol, dlch lo ro d ifiu o ro - m eth a n e , d iey a n d iam id e , d ip h en y lam in e, em etin e a n d sa lts, e th y l alcohol, fo rm ald e hyde, le a d a rs e n a te , lea d ch ro m e pig m en t, n ico tin e su lp h a te , n ico tin ic a cid , P a r is g re en , p e n ic illin , p h o sp h o ru s, p h o sp h o ric acid, a n d p h o sp h a te s , p h tlia lic a n h y d rid e , p o tassiu m b ich ro m ate , p o tassiu m c h lo ra te , p o tassiu m p e rc h lo ra te , p y re th ru m flow er an d e x tra c ts , ro ten o n e a n d d e rris , sodium a rs e n a te , sodium a rs e n ite , sodium b ic h ro m a te , sodium c h lo ra te , sodium n itr a te , sodium silic a te , ta n n in g m a te ria ls , ta r ta r ic a cid an d t a r tr a te s , to lu o l a n d to lu e n e , u rea.
Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 ;, T HE C H E M I C A L A G E 77
Solvents an d P lasticisers
N otes on R ecent T re n d s
b y W . E. C A S H , M .'Sc., A .R .C .S ., D .I.C ., M .I .C h e m .E ., A .R .I .C .
T
H E outlook in th is field h a s slowly changed. A fter th e th ousands of experim ents in th e use of all so rts of .various and com plicated solvents a n d , m ore pa rticu larly , p lasticisers, th e cold reasoning of th e supply position h as h ad a sobering effect. T he te n dency now is to fix upon products w hich hav e good, all-round properties an d for which th e raw m aterials a re available, o r in the . course of being m ad e available, an d to s ta n dardise and im prove w here possible. In m an y cases th ere is still a shortage of p las
ticisers, although th is deficiency is slowly being am ended as fa r as plant a n d labour w ill allow. T h is , of course, refers to m ate rials of a stric tly essential n a tu re . On th e o th er h a n d , a feeling of optim ism 011 ... th e course o f th e w a r is m ak in g m an y pcoplo look ahead to u rg en t civilian supplies, w ith th e object of finding indigenous or m ore easily o btained solvents w hich can best serve th e lacquer an d plastics tra d e w ithout affecting p rio rity dem ands.
T h e S e a r c h fo r th e I d e a l
T h e search for th e ideal solvent and the perfect plasticiser is still going on. and to th is Cnd i t has been realised th a t in very few cases is m uch fu n d am en tal inform ation available. M any w orkers are in v estig atin g the problem of shedding lig h t on the.
m echanism of solution a n d plasticisatio n , and, w hile a very large volum e of work re la te s to th e new er polym ers, a tte n tio n is also directed to old favourites such as the cellulose e sters ', ", for, in sp ite of m any years of use, th ere is m uch to learn. T he a ctiv ity facto r ” of solvents for cellulose esters has been d ealt w ith in a paper recently rep o rted 12, liquids w ith a h ig h facto r being su itab le for th e n itra te and w ith a low fa cto r for th e acetate. C alculation of th e fa cto r is m ade by dividing th e sq u are dipole . m om ent by the product of perm issiv ity a n d surface tension. W h a t is also required, as m uch as know ledge of th e solution process, is a n id ea of how th e re v erse w o rk s, th a t is film form ation1. V arious in v estig ato rs have m easured th e viscosity of solutions com pared w ith con cen tratio n , and from these d a ta have o b tained an indication- of relativ e m erits of solvents and plasticisers. T h e effect of sol
v e n ts on th e o rien tatio n of polystyrene m olecules has been stu d ied . T h ere seems to bo an earn est dem and to try an d find some , sim ple tests w hereby an y given m a terial can be quickly evaluated as a solvent or p lasti- eiser, b u t th is a t present is fa r from p rac- . ticable. W h en one rem em bers th a t a plastieiser m u st have good com patibility (w ith ex tenders i f ' necessary) and excellent
m echanical, physical and electrical properties over a wide range of atm o sp h eric conditions, th e prospect of sim ple evaluation appears rem ote a t presen t.
S trik in g developm ents in th e solvent field are p erh ap s less noticeable th a n is th e case w ith p lasticisers, b u t an item of in te res t is th e increasing use of w ater, eith er as a sol
vent or m edium for suspension. Cases in poin t a re aqueous solvent for cellulose eth ers3, *, sodium d eriv ativ es of cellulose eth ers a n d polyvinyl alcohol w ith its eth ers, . some esters an d s a lts5. A ttem p ts are also
being m ade to incorporate in aqueous solu
tion com ponents w hich a re norm ally in soluble. W ith w ater as a m edium , c ertain resins are supplied for use in coatings or im p re g n atio n s, as, fo r exam ple, w ith poly
vinyl chloride latex and Iacq'uer, w a te r em ul
sions using m ethyl cellulose w ith urea form aldehyde resins“.
F u ra n derivatives are receiving atte n tio n in A m erica. D im ethyl fn ran is suggested os a dilu en t for nitrocellulose lacquers and a solvent for polyvinyl a cetate. F u rfu ra l con
tinues to be of use in solvent extraction and th e refining of petroleum oils. F u rfu ry l alcohol is a solvent fo r nitrocellulose, dyes an d resin s, is of use as a p a in t, v a rn ish and lacq u er rem over, and lias good w ood-penetra
tin g pow er1. A te tra -s u b stitu te d hydrofuran is claim ed to be a useful solvent for cellulose esters an d ethers*. T etrah y d ro fu rfu rv l esters are being tried as p lastic ise rs; the oleate is com patible w ith polyvinyl chloride”, for w hich tet-rahydrofurano is a solvent.
N itr o p a r a ffin s
T he production of nitroparaffins is still on a- “ sm all scale ” (A m erican), b u t their, use as cellulose ace ta te , tria c e ta te , and aceto- b u ty rate solvents is likely to increase th e use of these p roducts. 2-N itroluitano! is an excellent solvent fo r zein, and is said to bo superior to 90-95 p e r cent, alcohol and Cello- solve. N itroparaffins - can be used w ith ru b b e r late x to im prove coatings b y dipping and m oulding. W ith vinyl resins, n itro paraffins are u n su itab le for polyvinyl ace ta te, polyvinyl chloride o r polyvinyl b u ty ra l. but h av e possibilities w ith finishes of chloride a ce ta te co-polymerg.
H ig h e r A lc o h o ls
T h e production of h ig h er alcohols has received an im pulse, m ainly for estcrification.
but m an y of them a re su itab le a s solvents or in solvent blends for specific purposes.
E th y l b u ta n o l is u seful in sy n th e tic resin v arnishes and as a flotation a g en t, w hile its
7s . T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ja n u a r y 2 0 , 19 4 5 a c e ta te 'g iv es sm ooth liigh-gloss films with
nitrocellulose lacquers. T h e eth y l buty l e th e r of ethylene glycol h as been m ade as a high-boiling solvent for sy n th e tic resin lacquers. N orm al hexyl alcohol is produced in a lim ited supply and is a solvent for hydrocarbons, linseed oil, shellac, gum s, and dyestnffs. E th y l licxanol, n-octyl alcohol, and capryl alcohol a re being m ade, alth o u g h th ere is little o p p o rtu n ity to obtain th ese in v iew .o f th eir use as plasticisers in ester form .
T h e range of s u b s titu te d glycols is being increased and polyethylene glycol and its oth ers h av e uses as p lasticisers, although re sistan c e to w ater is n ot h ig h 10. M ethoxv- trig ly co l a c e ta t e " is a h ig h -b o ilin g , noii- hygroscopic solvent for cellulose esters an d certain sy n th e tic resins suggested for co at
ings and p rin tin g -in k com positions. P o ly ethylene glycols in liquid form a re suggested as p lasticisers, lu b ric an ts, and binders. P o ly ethylene glycol diethyl licxoate, as Flexol 4 GO, h as been added to th e range of sim ilar esters, a n d is claim ed to be an efficient plas- liciser of low v o la tility and good flexibility for several p lastics.
New polyhydroxy bodies a re being de
veloped, alth o u g h th e ir use a s solvents or p lasticisers is a t present overshadow ed by service in o th er d irectio n s; ethylhexanediol, 2-m ethvl-2 , 4-pentanediol and trim ethylolpro-
pane a re being m ade in A m erica.
S o lv e n t E s t e r s
Pew new esters h av e been suggested for use as solvents, alth o u g h w ith th e shortage of th e usual solvents some u sers are tu rn in g tow ards some of th e older esters, such as dieth y l carb o n ate, d ieth y l oxalate and even eth y l aceto acetate, for nitrocellulose lacquers.
O xalates -can be used w ith o u t h y d ro ly sis, provided th a t care is tak en to exclude w ater from fo rm u la tio n s; aro m a tic hydrocarbons should be u se d as d ilu e n ts. P ro p y le n e la u ra te is a recent developm ent in America as a high-boiling solvent. M ethyl form ate h as been m ad e from form aldehyde13 and formic esters of th e mono eth e rs of poly- liydric alcohols are m ade by th e actio n of carbon m onoxide on th e e th e r14.
C h lo r in a te d H y d r o c a r b o n s Some ad d itions h av e been m ade to the range of ch lo rin ated hydrocarbons. Isopropyl trichlorbcnzene, chlorpropane (liq u id ), mono- rh lo rto lu en e, an d orthodichlorbenzene are suggested a s high-boiling solvents for various re sin s, w hile c h lo rp ro p a n e (wax) a n d h ighly chlo rin ated paraffin a re said to be useful fire-resisting p lasticisers.
C onsiderable a tte n tio n continues to be given to th e p lasticisatio n of polyvinyl chloride, co-polvm ers of vinyl chloride and a c e ta te , and vinyl acetals. T h e ru sh to try th e effect of an y h a n d y chem ical as a plasti- ciser h a s a b ated sohiew hat, w ith m anipula-
tors sta n d ard isin g on a sh o rt ran g e of p lasticisers depending on th e use a n d m ethod of application. Am ong m ateria ls suggested m ore recently as plasticisin g P .Y .C . a re the follow ing : dibenzyl sebacate, fritoly] phos
p h a te , alk y l a d ip a tes13, dicyclohexyï itacon- a te 1“, m ethyl p e n ta ch lo rste ara te , p o ly eth y lene glycol d ieth y l lie x o a te . (Flexol 4 G O ).
acetoxy s té a ra te s18, thiodiglycol esters34, glyceryl trib u ty ra te , e th y l cinnam ato, H y c a r O R 15, glyceryl triaccto ricin o leate, and esters of poly-acids an d poly-alcohols (P ara- plex G25).
D ih ex y l, a n d m ore p a rtic u la rly dio cty l p lith a la te, a re th e m ost satisfacto ry p la s ti
cisers th a t a re av ailab le ¡11 any q u a n tity , h aving a good co m p atib ility w ith P .V .C , and giving resistance to w a ter ex tractio n , good low -tem perature flexibility coupled w ith low ag in g loss, s ta b ility to heat, a n d lig h t, and v ery useful electrical pro p erties. B utyl acety l ricinoleate gives low -tem pcrature flexibility, w hile d ib u ty l and dioctyl sebacate are excellent ¡11 _ th is respect,* although the electrical properties fall sh o rt of th e p h th a- late s. D ib u ty l se b a ca te is used to p la s tic is e - polyvinyl b u ty ral rosins and cellulose acetate in lam in ated glass“ " , ami w ith N eoprene to reduce b rittle fra c tu re tem p eratu re.
S t a n d a r d is in g P la s t ic is e r s T h ere is now a general feeling tow ards sta n d ard isa tio n of plasticisers w here possible, and also a tte m p ts a re being m ade to corre
late physical properties of P .V .C . composi
tions w ith chem ical properties of p lasticisers.
G enerally, th is is not so sim ple as it sounds.
T h ere a re , for exam ple, several octyl p h th a- lates, th e m ain one a t present being m ade from eth y l hexanol. T h ese esters are s im ila r in th e ir effect, b u t h av e c e rta in individual c h aracteristics m aking sian d ard i- sation difficult. T h e a ctu al chem ical con
s titu tio n of b u ty l acetyl riein o leàte is, 110 doubt, u n c ertain ow ing to th e difficulty of -obtaining an y hydroxy acid of th is n a tu re in a p u re s ta te . T hese m a tte rs w ill, in duo course, be cleared up, especially w hen th ere is a proper relatio n betw een supply and dem and.
Polyvinyl chloride p astes are made, w ith various solvent plasticisers, su ch as tricresy!
p h o sp h a te, d ib u ty l, am yl, or h exyl p htha- late s. S olvents for polyvinyl chloride a re still very few, only pow erful solvents such as m esitvl oxide, isophorone cyclohexanone ' an d n itro b en zen e being su itab le. M ost o th er vinyl resins, w hich include th o se of vinyl a c e ta te an d alcohol, vinyl a ce tals, and co
polym ers o f vinyl c h lo rid e an d a c e ta te , a re m ore easily dissolved in th e usual ketone, e ster, an d o th er solvents. P o lyvinyl chloride cem ents can h e m ade w ith a p lasticiser, such as d ibutyl p lith a la te, a n d m ixed w ith g ra p h ite or pow dered asb esto s. T h e p la s ti
cisation of P o rm v a r is n o t too easy, as m ost single p lasticisers fail to give rubber-like
